AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn's offense exploded as the Tigers defeated North Alabama, 14-6, in the home finale at Plainsman Park Tuesday.
The Tigers totaled 16 hits in the contest and were paced by three hits apiece from Ryan Bliss, Rankin Woley and Kason Howell. Tyler Miller and Garrett Farquhar added two hits each, marking both player's second straight game with multiple hits.
Playing in his last game at Plainsman Park, Woley hit one of Auburn's three home runs and drove in a career high five in the contest.
"If you look at the last three weeks on who's swinging the bat, Rankin Woley is really swinging the bat," head coach Butch Thompson said. "That opposite field home run was impressive."
"We wanted to make it a point of emphasis to come out here and have a much better midweek game right from the first pitch, especially offensively," Woley added. "I think this gives us great momentum going into a huge series this weekend."
Miller added his team-best 16th home run of the season and increased his RBI total to 58. Nate LaRue got the start behind the plate and recorded his second homer of the season and his career.
Auburn scored in five of the first six innings, including multiple runs in four of the first five frames, totaling 14 runs on 16 hits to take a nine-run lead into the seventh.
Blake Burkhalter (1-0, 1.86) earned his first career win in relief. The sophomore righty pitched 2.1 scoreless innings and matched a career high with four strikeouts.
"Burkhalter settled the game for us, and Will Morrison did a little bit of work," Thompson said. "I think we accomplished one goal of winning the game, and the second goal of not taking anything out of any arms to help us give our best shot to go win a series at Missouri."
North Alabama started the game with back-to-back hits and scored the first run on a RBI groundout in the top of the first.
Auburn didn't take long to respond as the first five Tigers reached and took a quick 4-1 lead. Bliss started the bottom of the first with a single and Miller doubled to put two runners in scoring position. Woley followed with a two-run single to center. Steven Williams doubled to right center and Howell drove both he and Woley in to extend the lead to three runs.
North Alabama hit a solo homer to start the second and tied the game after drawing three walks followed by a two-run single back up the middle.
The Tigers reclaimed the lead on a two-out RBI single from Bryson Ware in the bottom of the third and added two more on Garrett Farquhar's two-run single to left to make it a 7-4 ballgame.
After North Alabama scored in the fourth to make it 7-5, Bliss and Miller came back around and started the home half with a triple and two-run homer to extend the lead to four.
From there, the Tigers used solo shot from LaRue and three-run blast from Woley to turn in a four-run fifth and extend the lead to seven before adding another on Farquhar's second hit and third RBI of the game in the sixth.
North Alabama scored on a bases-loaded walk in the seventh to cap off the scoring in the contest.
Junior lefty Brooks Fuller recorded the final six outs in scoreless fashion to end the home slate.
Fighting for a berth in the SEC Tournament, Auburn heads north to take on Missouri (14-33, 7-20 SEC) Thursday-Saturday.
Offense leads Auburn to 14-6 win in home finale
